The Los Angeles Lakers have been revitalized by what is considered the most stunning trade in NBA history. Rather than merely speculating about their future without LeBron James, the Lakers have paved a clearer path to long-term contention, securing Luka Doncic in a deal that continues to bewilder basketball fans around the world.

While Anthony Davis was certainly a fan favorite and rightfully so, given his stellar performance during his five and a half years with the Lakers, trading an aging Davis for the young and promising Doncic, who is still entering the peak years of his career, was a logical choice. This move made the Lakers’ trade deadline a huge success, even if some of their other transactions didn’t go as planned.

Luka Doncic, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season at the age of 25, has already cemented himself as one of the top playoff performers in the league. For the Lakers to secure him at such a reasonable cost is a significant victory.

Although much of the focus on Doncic’s arrival centers on the team’s future, there’s a real possibility that the Lakers could make an impact in this year’s playoffs, especially with LeBron James, still playing at an elite level despite being 40 years old.